Is it possible to lose money with the NFL? I think you or I could run it.
In the short term sure anybody could make money with the NFL. The trick is putting in a position to continue to grow, with massive growth. People forget that the final few years under Tagliabue things weren’t actually in very good shape. They had a CBA that all the owners hated and were planning on taking the opt out he’d put in to get it signed, players were making headlines with legal troubles on an almost daily basis in his last off season, plus of course it was under Tag’s watch that the league issued “studies” that showed concussions had no long term effects. The end of his reign was marked by a lot of postponing of problems. Postponed to land right in Goodell’s lap.
From that Goodell has gotten the league’s longest CBA, their longest TV deals, a dramatic reduction in off field issues, settled the concussion lawsuit in a way that’s so far is working out to be at least publicity neutral, grown the international market, and is reducing the injury rate.
I think I could have run the league better than Tags did in his final few years (overall I think he was a good commish, but he was very obviously burned out in the end), but not as well as Goodell. Not saying he hasn’t made mistakes, certainly the Rice suspension was just poorly played, but even then he corrects them. Now the NFL is the only league with a domestic abuse policy, it’s good PR and will help if the situation comes up again, especially when it comes up for other leagues.